Changeable letter sign



Feb. 19, 1946. B. S CHLANGER 2,395,197

' CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN Filed Jan. 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 000000000000OOOOOOOOGOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOQOQOOOOOOOG23 000000000600OOOOOOQOOGOO OOQOOQOOOOGOQGOOOOGOOOOOkZaa I ooooeoooooooooooooopooooooodocooooo ooooooooooo i/oooooooooeooooodoooooooooooooooooo 00600000000 ll 0000000o0cooooo'ooogoooooooooooooo ooooogoooooooooo I Z5 /00ooo0odo0oa0ooogboooa ooofiooe oooo0000000000000 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN SCHLA/VGEE.

Feb. 19, 1946. B. SCHLANGER CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1944 IN VEN TOR. BE/VJ 19M IA/ SCHL flNGEK.

AITTORNEX Patented Feb. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN Benjamin Schlanger, New York, N. Y.

Application January 10, 1944, Serial No. 517,645

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in signs with changeable characters Which can be arranged in various combinations 'for producing the sign, and more particularly to the type provided with illumination.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sign having changeable letters or other characters, wherein the connections between the characters and the panel plate upon which the characters are removably mounted, are substantially invisible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a changeable sign having substantially invisible means for connecting the characters in position on the panel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a sign, a translucent background and translucent changeable characters having translucent supporting means; in which the panel has a plurality of angular or slanting bores or holes and the supporting means comprise slanting or angularly disposed pins or pegs at the rear of the character adapted to fit within the bores, the bores and pegs slanting downwardly from the panel and characters, respectively, the slanting holes being arranged according to adefinite or predetermined order whereby the changeable characters may be removably attached to the panel plate in any desired sequence or order.

Yet another object of the present invention is to so coordinate the said holes in the panel plate and the aforementioned pegs of the changeable characters, that the said characters may be fastened to the panel in an orderly and pleasing fashion as regards the relative spacing of the characters.

On account of the various shapes of characters employed in sign displays, such as photographs, art work, letters, numerals, .etc., it will be found in certain cases, impractical to locate the pegs at the same points on the characters.

This invention provides for arrangement or location of the pegs on the characters such that the pegs will always find a supporting hole in the panel plate.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of translucent letters or other characters with integral downwardly projecting pegs or pins having fins or stops to limit the extent of entry of the pegs in the holes of the panel plate on which the characters are to be mounted whereby to provide a space between the face of the panel plate and the characters to allow foreign matter, such as, rain, hail, ice

to pass through the said space and not to accumulate thereon; the provision of such space also increasing the lighting efiect of the Sign when illuminated. The holes in the panel being made slanting, any water, such as rain, caught in the unused holes will fall therethrough.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide atransluscent sign or display effect wherein one or more intermediate backgrounds or planes may be removably mounted between the base background and other character unit or display with the said intermediate backgrounds or plane having perforations adapted to receive the pins or pegs of the succeeding backgrounds, characters or display effects, whereby a diversity of backgrounds or arrangements and/or character unit in different planes and colors may be achieved, the backgrounds and character unit or display efiects being, if desired. illuminated by the illuminating means located behind the base background or panel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a transluscent sign or display effect with changeable intermediate planes or backgrounds and character units, each plane or background having projections or pegs on their rear faces of varying lengths to permit the placement of these backgrounds and character units at varying distances from the base background. The intermediate planes or backgrounds having perforations to permit the passing of the pegs through the intermediate backgrounds for engagement with the perforation in the base or other preceding background.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated sign made of such material and design as practically to be devoid of shadow-casting, except where desired. For example, heretofore, it has been the practice of using opaque supports, rails or tracks as a connection between the changeable characters and the panel on which the characters are mounted. By making a sign in accordance with the present invention, such opaque means are eliminated and the panel and the characters give the ap pearance of being an integral unit, one blending into the other without interruption as by lines of demarcation, shadows, heaviness of material in certain spots, etc.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a character particularly adapted for a changeable sign and of such design as to prevent foreign matter settling on the surfaces thereof.

These and other objects and advantageous features of the invention and their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating certain embodiments of which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a panel plate employed in a changeable letter sign incorporating certain features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken throughlinei-Z. of..Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a viewill'ustrating a plurality 'ofchar acters having typical arrangements of supporting P Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-'-4 of one of the characters shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through ,a mold for producing the said characters;

Fig. 6 is an exploded viewxofirtheemoldr shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of. the character shown in a modified forms:

Fig. 8 is a. partial: sectional view showing. an intermediate-background .and portionof: a char.- acterv in. a modified; form, removablyr attached to a panel; 7

Fig. 9 isv atransverse: sectionalview of a sign embodying certain :featu'resofrthednvention in a modified form.

Fig. 10 is a partialsectionalview showing a sign having incorporated therein the invention in a still furthermodified form:

Referring nowmore-particularly to. the. drawings, there ar disclosed signs of- .the type ewherein individual letters. or characters may be arranged in various combinations for. producing, the sign.

From: the following description-it will become evident that the :invention'is.applicableto 1111111119- nated signs-having-a luminous or-translucent panel'forming the. background .for .removably mounting 'character. units which also-maybe luminous. or translucent, andinz one.mode of-the invention, therelation between the .perf orations in the panel .ori'background and the-projections-in the character units being. such. thatthecharacter units-may be arranged in. anydesired manner as to spacing orpositionwith respeetto eachv other.

According to- Figs.1 and 2,. the. sign with changeable-letters or. other. character. units comprisesa housing 15. made of metal. or other suitable material, having atop wall l6, rear wall. and bottomwall l8.. Bottom wall .l8.is preferably provided. with:a plurality of-perforationsla to allow for the escape of-any accumulation of water which maybe. caused. by. condensation, rain hail or snosm. Suitable lighting means 20. are arranged. within the'chamber. I5 of. housing. l5- to illuminate the sign.. Any conventional and suitable lighting means may be employed...

The front wall comprises the. background, plate orpanel on which .the changeableletters or. other characters or. units. (later on described). are mounted. .Wall 2 l. is preferablymade of luminous or translucent. or transparent materiaLsuch as suitable plastic. composition. or glass, and.is pro.- vided. witha plurality of. holes...or. perforations 2 2. inclining. downwardly from. its. front face. -2 I to its.- back. or rear face .21.". Perforationsll are arranged in a longitudinal series.23', each..series comprising. a top. row 23a. anda bottomrow 23b.

Atypical character. unit .in theiorm .of the.let.- ter D. is .shown .in section .in..Fig. 4, and. comprises a hollow body ,30'. having. a frontwallor face 3| and diverging lateral walls or fla'nges32, 33... Extendingirorntherear. faceon wall are the pegs -pins .or projections; 'inclining downwardly from its back or rear face 30'. Projections 34, 35 are by location and construction adapted to fittingly engage any of the slanting perforations 22 and are made of translucent material where the character units are to be employed in connection with a background or panel 2| which is translucent, making the connection between the changeable character units and the background or panel through which the character. units are supported on the panel,.substantially invisible.

The character and its projections may be cast or molded in a suitable mold, in which case the projections would be made integral with the .character. per se, preferably of the same material, and if required, of translucent material.

Fig; 5 diagrammatically and conventionally showsthe male and: female parts 40, 4|, respectively, of the mold having the molded character unit 42' formed therebetween. The molding of the character unitmaybe accomplished byany of the. well.v known means.

However, because of the pins orprojections 34 being inclined, the characterunit 30- andr-consequently the mold has to be made such :thatthe character. unit 30 may be withdrawnifromrthe mold 48 inthe direction of the arrow 43. Thisis seen in Fig. 6. Thecharacterunitis thus-providedwith the inclined. side wall 0r flange 33-, and the. further provision of. flange. 32- makestforaa more aesthetic appearing character.unit..

It is desirableto maintain. the. body of character unit at a distancefrom the front face/2|. of the background. 2L. For this-purpose, fins,.en'. largements or like projections ...45.may be pro.- vided. A spaceis thus provided. forforeign matter such as, snow, hail, rainto fallthroughand not collect on that part. of. the sign... The.perfo.- rations lSin panel 2| being inclined, rain. .or. hail will not collect in the unused perforationsorholes, but, on the other hand, would f all. therethrough.

Fig. 3 illustrates some letters of theaIphabe't made up in accordance with the invention. Each letter is. Provided with a plurality ofdownwardly inclined. pegs or projections arranged insuch manner, for example, in the letter A,? where the pegs are represented by the numerals 24', .25; that the said pegs willbe received in two holes, one below the other, as indicated by the numeral 25 in' Figurel.

Let. it be assumed that the sixholes bounded by the line 21 come under consideration for. the support of a character. The pegs or projections 24, 25.0f the letter A may be inserted inlholes 21a; 21b. The pegs 24a, 23a; of the letter D may be inserted in the holes 21c, 21d;' pegs 2412*,"2511, of letter G may be inserted in holes 21a, 21d; pegs 24c, 250, of letter J, may be inserted in holes 21d, 27c; pegs 24d, 25d of the letter N, may be-inserted in holes 210, 21g; pegs 24c, 25c; of "the letter Y may be inserted in holes 210, 21a. The foregoing arrangements are only illustrative of the many other variations possible."

Fig. 8 discloses a changeable sign embodying the invention in a modified form. According to this figure, the base background orpanel- I0; which is preferably made of transparent or translucent material is provided with the downwardly inclined holes 12 receiving-the projections 13 of'the flat character. or intermediate background" "H. Fins or other extensions .14 are provided on pegs 13 to limit the extent of insertion 'ofith'e" peggto provide the. desired space S between the body ll of. the character. andthe front face of panellfl, to. allow foreign matterto pass therebetween and for artistic spacing. The character intermediate background H including its pegs 13 may be formed of plastic composition by a molding process. Where both the panel Hi, and the intermediate unit II are made of transparent or transluscent material, the connections between the panel and the unit H will be substantially invisible. The intermediate background or display effect H is provided with perforations 12a to accommodate the reception of the pegs 13a of the character unit 3| or any other desired unit.

Fig. 9 discloses a sign 4! having a top wall 5!. rear or back wall 49, end walls 50 and bottom wall 52. Extending upwardly from bottom 52 is a por tion 48 of the sign arranged in zig-zag formation providing the inclined walls 64 and intermediate horizontal walls 65 connecting the inclined walls. The respective top and slanting walls 64, 65 form housings BI, '61". in which are contained the illuminating means 62. The upper extremity of portion 48 of the sign is secured to portion 5| of top 51 as indicated at 66, an upper housing being formed by one of the slanting walls 64 and a part of the top 5|, as clearly seen in the figure.

The top, bottom and rear walls 5|, 49, 52, respectively, and the portion 48 of the sign are preferably made of a single sheet of metal. in which case it will be easy to so attach portion 48 to top wall 5| as to provide overhanging tops for the respective housings 6|. 6!, Bl".

The front edges of the end walls 5!! are so shaped as to conform to the shape of the portion 48. Secured to the front of each hous ng 6|, 6!, 6| is a channelled frame, indicated respectively by the numerals 54. 56. 51. These frames clampingly receive the vertical backgrounds or panels 58, 59, 60, res ectively, which may be of a construction similar to any of the panels heretofore described. However, the type sign box depicted in Fig. 9 is particularly adapted for the type of panel having the perforations or holes for receiving the pegs or pins of the character units. For, foreign matter, such as, rain or hail in passing through the unused perforations in the background or panel will fall through the openings 63, produced because of the overhanging tops 5|, 55. and thus will not accumulate within the sign.

Fig. 10 discloses a changeable sign embodying the invention in a still further modified form. According to this figure, the background or panel 10b, preferably made of transparent or translucent material, is provided with the downwardly inclined holes 121) some of which receiving the projections 13b of the intermediate character or background Nb, and others of which receive the projections 34b extending from character unit 3"; and passing through the enlarged openings 9! in intermediate background or display effect Hb. It is evident that pins or projections 34b are longer than those indicated by the numeral 131), so that by the aforementioned construction the base background 101), intermediate background Nb and character unit 3| b, may be arranged in spaced relation giving very desirable and aesthetic effects. The pins 34b, 13b may be provided with the enlargements 92, 93, respectively to limit the extent of the same within their respective perforations.

Again referring to Figure 8, it is evident that provided. It is apparent, however, that immaterial changes and modifications may be made by skilled persons without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A sign comprising a translucent display panel having perforations inclining downwardly from its front to its back, a translucent unit comprising a character and projections inclining downwardly from the back of said character, said character and said projections consisting of an integral body, said projections adapted to be inserted in said perforations, and means on said projections to limit the extent of insertion of said projections in said perforations whereby to maintain said panel and said character in spaced relation.

2. A sign comprising a translucent display background having perforations therein inclining downwardly from its front to its back, a translucent unit adapted to be removably mounted on said background, said unit comprising a translucent character and translucent projections inclining downwardly from the back of said character, said projections adapted to be inserted in said perforations, and means for illuminating said background and said unit.

3. A sign comprising a background having perforations inclining downwardly from its front to its back, a first member having projections inclining downwardly from its back, said projection being adapted to engage said perforations, said first member having perforations inclining downwardly from its front to its back, and a character member having projections inclining downwardly from its back, said first member being intermediate said background and said character member, said projections of said character member being adapted to engage said perforations in said first member.

4. A sign comprising a background having perforations inclining downwardly from its front to its back, a first member having projections inclining downwardly from its back, said projections being adapted to engage said perforations, said first member having perforations inclining downwardly from its front to its back, and a character member having projections inclining downwardly from its back, said projections of said character member extending through perforations of said first member and engaging perforations in said background.

BENJAMIN SCHLANGER. 

